Romney explained that he is opting out of all straw polls – in Iowa, Florida, Michigan and elsewhere.

“We said, you know, resources, money, is hard to come by. We want to use the money we have to win the caucuses, to win the primaries, to win the conventions, to be able to get delegates and become the nominee,” he said.

Romney said he respects the straw poll process, and “nothing should be read into our lack of participation in the straw poll other than we want to do as well as we possibly can in the real contest that selects the delegates.”